Welcome to the second issue of the The Dementia Project team After a busy and successful first year, the team is thrilled to announce that all of the Wellbeing for Life modules are complete and are on My for Phase One groups. The team is forging ahead with a packed second year, including the creation of printable e-books to sit alongside the e- resources and opportunities to review the way health recording is completed across, to improve timely diagnosis of dementia The last few months have been especially busy for us, filming for Aged Care Channel TV, a whirlwind of side-byside events in Warrington, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire. and plans to introduce health professionals to our Wellbeing for Life Toolkit,. We have attended and spoken at conferences across the country We also had some exciting news from the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards! It s been an action-packed year that we will try to condense into this newsletter for you! Contents Keep Going. Don t Stop! focus group an update from Chesterfield Roundup of conference news DAA and Royal College of Psychiatrists Side by side events and the on TV! Collaboration with Aged Care Channel TV Wellbeing for Life Toolkit Beth Britton roundtable events National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards 2017 Important dates Sarah Ormston replaced Karen Duggan as Specialist Health Advisor and Manager in February and has been visiting services and meeting as many people as possible in her first year. She is thoroughly enjoying her role! Sarah Ormston
Keep Going. Don t Stop! focus group in Chesterfield Andrew Bibby and the new resources The group also piloted the new accessible Dementia Friends resources which the has worked closely with the Alzheimer s Society to produce. The Keep Going.Don t Stop! focus group in Chesterfield is going from strength to strength, having produced an easy-read booklet, Respect in the last few months, They welcomed visitors Jo and Jess in October, for a special Halloween meeting, and some of the group visited the North roadshow at the end of November. They finished off the year with a Christmas Showcase event for family and friends in December 2016. They have almost completed an easyread booklet on A Good Doctor, illustrated with photos of themselves. There are also plans to create a Medical Emergency card that can be used across by the people we support. Our thanks go to Sue Percival and David Stiley, for their help and support in running the meetings
Conference news. The team have been working hard to raise awareness of the work of the project by attending and speaking at conferences this year. Royal College of Psychiatrist s Special Interest Day: Learning Disability and Dementia Disability Action Alliance (DAA) Roundtable In June, the team took part in the Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) Dementia and Learning Disabilities roundtable which focussed on improving dementia care for people in seldom heard groups. Speakers from organisations including the Mental Health Foundation and the National Care Forum shared their views on what good practice looks like. Sarah, Emma and Nicola presented three case studies of people we support with a learning disability and dementia. Each case study focussed on the individual and their life story, and living with dementia A DAA report on seldom heard groups, including the involvement of, will be released in September. Contact Sarah if you would like to be sent a copy Sadie and Nicola presented at the Royal College of Psychiatry in April, on the subject of Learning Disability and Dementia, ably assisted by project selfadvocates, Rachel and Rosie. They explained the aims and outcomes of the project, and how these are being achieved, as well as some general information about Alzheimer s Society Conference This was attended by Sarah, Nicola and Rosie in May. They heard speakers from the Dementia Research Institute, NHS England, and Rosie met the Chair for the day, Bill Turnbull! Rosie meets Bill Turnbull
All About Us... The team held side-by-side events in early February for Milton Keynes, Warrington and Bedfordshire services. The theme of the events was all about us and focussed on life story and wellbeing. It provided a chance to think about family, friends, places and objects that are important in a person s life. We also looked at the 5 ways to Wellbeing and Aged Care Channel TV In June 2016, the was approached by Aged Care Channel TV to help in making a film about living with a learning disability. Filming took place in October 2016, in various locations and featuring many of the people we support engaging in their work and hobbies. The resulting films were an enormous success and resulted in a live studio broadcast with a Q and A session with Karen Duggan and Rosie Joustra. reflected on the different ways in which we all try to live well. Matthew the presenter with Rachel and Rosie Life Story thoughts An Oscars celebration day and film premiere was held at Great Holm in March and included All about us in Warrington a red carpet and popcorn. The films made by ACCTV were shown to an appreciative audience.
Wellbeing for Life Toolkit of resources Beth Britton roundtables... The team have been working hard to finish the Wellbeing for Life Toolkit, and are currently in the process of gathering feedback, implementing revisions and promoting the resources to services in the Phase 1 areas. In September, the Toolkit will be released to health professionals for them to use. Many thanks go to all staff who have assisted in this task, and helped to finish it on time, and especially to Shelly and Linda in Workforce Development who have added the resources to My Beth is an independent expert consultant working as a valued team member with Dementia Project. She has held two Roundtable sessions for staff working in services in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Warrington already this year and has a third planned for September. These very popular events focus on subjects such as Validation and Reality Orientation, Life Story and Eating and Drinking, and allow for an exchange of ideas and discussions around best practice. The September Roundtables will look at Changed Behaviour, with dates for Phase 1 services on the back page of this newsletter. If you d like to attend, please contact Sandra White for more details and to book a place. Follow Beth s blog for news, support and advice for people living with, or caring for someone with dementia
roadshows The team visited the North and South Roadshows in November and December last year. The theme was Music and Memories and they encouraged people to think of their favourite song and then to listen to it on the Ipad. They then write on a record why they like it, and how it made them feel. It was a big success, thanks in no small part to Rosie, Rachel and Taylor and their enthusiasm. Karen, Rosie and Nicola at the North roadshow Plans are already underway for this year s Roadshows on 29th November (North), and 7th December (South). Look out for something arty and fun! National Learning Disability and Autism Awards The team were very excited to be nominated as finalists in the Making a Difference category at the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards 2017. Although they didn t win, the team was thrilled to be included in an event celebrating such inspirational people in the sector of learning disability Emma wrote an article on Learning Disability and Dementia that was published in the May edition of Care Talk magazine. The team, with Rachel and Rosie, were featured on the cover. Emma also wrote a blog for the Department of Health about providing good support for people with a learning disability and dementia, and had an article published in the Journal of Dementia Care called Dementia and learning disabilities: bridging the gap.
Important dates: Beth s Roundtable in Bedfordshire 12th September Launch of DAA s Seldom Heard Groups Campaign 19th September World Alzheimer s Day 21st September Beth s Roundtable in Warrington 22nd September Jo and Jess book launch at the MK Memory Café 26th September Dementia Special Interest Group meeting 27th September Beth s Roundtable in Milton Keynes 6th October UK Dementia Congress 7th to 9th November National Dementia Care Awards 9th November Health Special Interest Group meeting 14th November all welcome! North Roadshow 29th November Keep Going...Don t Stop! group showcase celebration 4th December South Roadshow 7th December If you would like to be involved in the project, or would like information on our future events, please contact us at: sarah.ormston@macintyrecharity.org tel: 07789 171400 Nicola.payne@macintyrecharity.org tel: 07823 530100 Sandra.white@macintyrecharity.org tel: 01908 230100